Posted on 09/01/2015 7:30:11 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
It’s presidential campaign season again, which means the name Reagan is going to be bandied about, embraced—and taken in vain.
From Rick Santorum (who was a back-bench congressman during the Reagan years) practically claiming credit for the Reagan Revolution, to Mike Huckabee repeating “As Ronald Reagan said, ‘Trust but verify’” at the drop of every hat, to 437,986,989 misuses of “Reagan’s 11th Commandment” (it wasn’t Reagan’s but he brought it up when it benefitted him), the legacy of the man biographer H.W. Brands calls “one of the two most consequential presidents of the 20th century” pervades the Republican nomination process.
But Reagan’s name has never been sullied the way it is now.
The Supreme Court has recognized there is such a thing as “fighting words,” but has necessarily left the definition vague.
I’d like to propose that “Well, Ronald Reagan used to be a Democrat, too” be up on the slappable offense list with “Your momma____ ”—if that retort is being used to defend Donald Trump.
I’m sure this is something that would have irritated the hell out of me, even before I read Brands’ extremely readable and engaging new biography, Reagan: The Life. I’ve never understood the appeal of Donald Trump’s preening peacock act—but up until now, it was easy to ignore. And now that Trump is ubiquitous, emergency measures must be taken.
However, since I can’t reach out and slap everyone, here are just a few reminders of things you probably already know, but have buried in your brain under the sludge of the Trump-publicity avalanche—and the muddiness of enablers like Greta and Sean Hannity.
Reagan’s encounters with the Left made him a conservative. Trump’s encounters with the Left made him get out his checkbook.
As Brands reminds us, Ronald Reagan was a Democrat in his early years as an actor. He was also a freedom-loving, all-American, patriotic liberal (yes, those once existed).
Reagan’s first real encounter with the hard Left was during his term as the president of the Screen Actors Guild. His revulsion at not only the ideology, but the bully tactics of the communists who tried to take over Hollywood, led him to examine all of his political premises.
Over the next decades, Reagan read up and formed the intellectual basis for his conservatism. He became a popular radio commentator similar to Paul Harvey, writing his own scripts and becoming a missionary for conservative thought—at a time when smiley-faced liberalism was still the ascendant philosophy in American politics.
Trump, in contrast, spent the last decade funding the anti-American, defeatist hard Left. Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid have a lot in common with the thugs who turned Reagan to the Right, but Trump was happy to hand them money.
Trump’s newfound “conservatism” is also awfully easy. He harps on a few issues he knows can rile up the Right, and plays to people tired of political correctness (even when what he says is factually incorrect).
Comparing this “conversion” to that of Reagan is Political Transformations for Dummies.
Reagan talked about the greatness of America; Trump talks about the greatness of Trump—and how great America could be, if only he were in charge.
Even in the midst of the Carter malaise, Reagan talked about America in the glowing terms of the Founders’ ambitions—and he quoted them. Trump quotes… Trump.
But there is an even bigger difference. Reagan considered government a roadblock to the inherent greatness of America, Trump thinks government will be how we get to greatness—as long as he’s running it.
While Reagan said the world’s biggest lie was “I’m from the government and I’m here to help,” Trump promises that when he is running things the government will be here to help.
He will “take care of the women,” because he “cherishes them.” We are going to exploit foreign governments with trade deals because he will hire mean negotiators.
Reagan channeled de Tocqueville and what in the American character makes America great. Trump channels Huey Long. America just needs a good boss.
Reagan handled Sam Donaldson, Dan Rather and the reporters who defined TV news with grace and aplomb; Donald Trump has been whining about Megyn Kelly for a month.
Trump supporters point to Trump’s willingness to “say it like it is” and be “politically incorrect” as his main virtue. Many of them head-scratchingingly compare this to Reagan.
Go ahead. Google all you want. I’m pretty sure Reagan ran against Ford without mocking him as stupid, low-energy, or in somebody’s pocket. He did point out some policy differences and differences in approach.
But whatever insults were directed his way, he handled with a smile and a non-personal retort. Like this classic:
Contrast that with how Donald Trump has handled the question from Megyn Kelly—which, in a campaign basically based on the candidate bragging about his personal qualities, is a fair one.
Reagan was not only a gentleman, he was a MAN. In the aftermath of the Megyn Kelly question, I would characterize Donald Trump as, well, a “wherever…”
In fact, re-reading Brands’ account of the assassination attempt, I would say Reagan was less bothered by John Hinckley Jr. than Trump was by Megyn.
Reagan understood free enterprise; Trump thinks as president he should be in charge of business.
Here’s one thing you never hear in a Trump speech about the economy—”Unleashing the genius and creativity of the American people.” Here are the words you hear a lot—”in charge,” “management,” “I’m smart,” “tough negotiations,” etc.
All of them have one thing in common: Trump thinks the American economy is something to be managed, not something to be unleashed. That’s what uber-manager Herbert Hoover thought, too—not to mention that whole disastrous tariff idea…
How’d that work out?
Missing from the Trump discussion of the economy is anything about regulation, probably the number one problem keeping back the American economy. He is for “replacing Obamacare,” though, with “something terrific.” Well, okay then. You’re gonna love it.
Donald Trump thinks he could stop Ford from building a plant in Mexico with an authoritative phone call if he were president. He also thinks he could tell Nabisco not to build a factory overseas. In the Reagan era, only the UAW thought that was the president’s job.
Reagan talked of making America an attractive place to do business, while Trump talks old-style union protectionism. I’ve yet to hear him utter the letters E-P-A.
Worst of all, while talking of all the expensive things he is going to do, Trump doesn’t seem to know the difference between the deficit and the trade deficit, as he revealed in a question about raising the debt ceiling recently. Reagan may not have been a businessman, but he had a far better understanding of the economy and how free enterprise works.
I’m not sure which is scarier: if Trump actually believes the whole economy is a zero sum game and works like his business does– or if he doesn’t.
Which brings us to Trump’s trump card, and his only real appeal.
Reagan believed the key to America’s greatness lay within; Trump believes America is victim to foreigners.
Well, to be more precise, Trump preaches America is victim to foreigners—I can’t swear to the fact that the man with the born genius for telling an audience what they want to hear really believes it.
We have met the enemy, and it ain’t us.
Speaking of foreign enemies, let’s switch quickly from theoretical presidents who use Reagan to an actual one who has repeatedly expressed his envy of Reagan’s legacy of transforming American politics.
Reading Brands’ gripping account of Reagan going toe to toe with Gorbachev with minimal assistance from his staff of very, very capable people, and comparing it to the disaster of John Kerry negotiating (AKA surrendering) to the Iranians is enough to make you weep for your country.
So, I guess there has been an even more egregious comparison to Ronald Reagan than Trump.
Support Trump if you want to. That’s fine. Comparing him to Reagan is not. Ever hear of Ross Perot?
By H.W. Brands
Doubleday, 816 pages (though you will read it like it’s 300) $35.00 (and worth every penny)
He’s a paid bot imo
Wrong. From Forbes:
Richard LeFrak Net worth: $5.6 billion
Stephen Ross Net worth: $4.8 billion
Sheldon Solow Net worth: $3.5 billion
Jerry Speyer Net worth: $3.5 billion
Donald Trump Net worth: $3.5 billion
(source)
Maybe you should check Freerepublic:
Dow falls 300 points on more China fears
CNN Money ^ | 9/1/2015 | Paul R. LaMonica
Posted on 09/01/2015 8:13:42 AM PDT by Signalman
Here we go again. Stocks took another nosedive in early trading Tuesday following more fears about a slowdown in China’s economy
Trump was right again :China.
Trump is at 40% . take that and stew on it you paid bot
. And you are right that all that i will never believe anything you bots say.
Whenever someone posts something about your Dear Leader Trump, and you respond with personal insults, because you just can't produce any facts or evidence to support your position. THAT is bot-like behavior, and yet you're calling ME a "paid bot"?? Ha!
Trump has said nothing about tariffs in the context of protectionist trade policies . He has proposed them as a punitive action against unfair trade policies raised against us, and a means to force other countries to pay for expenses they've caused us to incur.
Tariffs and Protectionism are no more synonymous than Guns and Crime.
Here we go again. Stocks took another nosedive in early trading Tuesday following more fears about a slowdown in China’s economy
China's economy is not affecting us because China is winning (as Trump argues). China is affecting us because China's economy is melting down. They have a bigger real estate and credit bubble than the U.S. did in 2007-08. Far bigger. And their economy is, accordingly, on the verge of collapse. If you call that "winning," then, well, go ahead. You'd be wrong, but OK.
What? Trump has advocated for tariffs as a means of keeping manufacturing jobs in the U.S. (see his Ford example, where he threatened to impose a 35% tariff on ant Ford imports if they opened a plant in Mexico). That is the essence of protectionism.
This conscience troll couldn't even run a lemonade stand and neither could the corrupt politicians he worships. Both have lived off the government never having to run a business which actually requires producing results and extremely hard work.
They haven't produced anything while Trump has . but they dare criticize Trump .
Born: June 14, 1946 (age 69), Queens, New York City, NY
Net worth: 4 billion USD (2015) Forbes
Party: Republican Party
So, he is one of the largest. The point is he is not bought and paid for like the rest.
According to Trump, and...well, no one else. Every independent assessment of his net worth is much lower.
This conscience troll couldn't even run a lemonade stand and neither could the corrupt politicians he worships. Both have lived off the government never having to run a business which actually requires producing results and extremely hard work.
And again, you resort to personal insults in defense of your Dear Leader Trump. How dare anyone criticize The Donald.
Oh, you're absolutely right that he's one of the largest. I was just responding to other posters saying that he was the greatest developer in the world.
And you're right that he's not bought and paid for like the rest. That's one thing I do like about him. But, to me, that doesn't outweigh his history as a big-government liberal.
http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trumps-10-billion-financial-disclosure-report-2015-7
This conscience troll couldn't even run a lemonade stand and neither could the corrupt politicians he worships. Both have lived off the government never having to run a business which actually requires producing results and extremely hard work.
They haven't produced anything while Trump has . but they dare criticize Trump . Running a successful business actually requires one to be extremely competent, work hard and be grounded in reality. Politicians and those in government never had to work just put on an act and lie and who can't do that?
To keep a domestic producer from jumping ship, but retaining access to our market.
That is the essence of protectionism.
No, the essence of Protectionism is to stifle competition with domestic producers by artificially raising the price of foreign goods.
That is NOT what he's proposing.
Trump has 10 billion dollars not the 3.5 you say .so you are caught in another lie:
http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trumps-10-billion-financial-disclosure-report-2015-7
Funny how a little troll like you doesn’t anything and is not the final authority on nothing
Trump's claims about his wealth have far exceeded other estimates. Forbes currently lists his net worth at $4 billion. Trump has also cited a few different figures since launching his presidential campaign last month.
As I said, Trump's net worth is $10 billion, according to Trump and no one else.
You are a liar.
they have to disclose their taxes , wealth etc. when running for president.
Trump is worth 10 billion dollars and he filed this papers that say that.
http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trumps-10-billion-financial-disclosure-report-2015-7
you are pathetic and liar
That is NOT what he's proposing.
That's exactly what he is proposing. Leaving aside the location where a given car company is headquartered (that's pretty much irrelevant, as companies build plants all over the place now--just look at VW), Trump's policies would artificially raise the price of cars produced outside of the U.S., in order to stifle competition with cars produced in the U.S., with the purpose of encouraging companies to open plants in the U.S. instead of overseas. That's protectionism 101.
We could use somebody like this in Washington. Somebody who earns his own money instead of taking it from the taxpayers.
Trump is worth 10 billion dollars and he filed this papers that say that.
First, Presidential candidates are not required to disclose their tax returns. Many do, others don't (Romney did not in 2012, for example, and Trump has not).
Second, while candidates are required to disclose certain information about their assets, the valuation of those assets is largely determined by the candidate themselves, and no one at the FEC is going over that with a fine-toothed comb. So, in his forms, Trump claims that the net worth of his assets (including "goodwill," or the value of the Trump brand) is $10 billion. But the fact that Trump claimed that does not make that number accurate, and no other independent assessment of his worth has been close to that number.
But sure, keep insulting me. Your Dear Leader would like that.
“Reagan was not ever a businessman.”
Wrong! Reagan was the President of the Screen Actors Guild. A business position and leader if there ever was one.
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